Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFH: Cathro brings hands-on coaching style to No. 2 Syracuse
By Conor Orr
Posted: 9/30/08, 11:26 PM EST Section: Sports
"We just talked hockey for over an hour," Cathro said. "We just talked tactics and philosophies on the game, and how we approach coaching and our ambitions, and we both had very similar thoughts about the game so it was a really enjoyable conversation."
After that phone call, Bradley knew she found the right man for the job.
"When I read the resumes there was a certain pool that we liked and conducted interviews with, but when I met him I knew what we needed, and my gut just sensed it," Bradley said. "I knew he'd be a good fit for us. And he's been awesome for us - he's really helped our program."
So far, Cathro has had an immediate impact on the Orange, Bradley said. On any given day, one can find Cathro in the middle of scrimmages, teaching his players the best way he knows how. Having a former professional men's player active in scrimmages has helped the team develop much faster, Taylor said. Although, she admits, it's not always fun.
"Sometimes it's really frustrating because he's so quick," Taylor said. "He's really quick off his feet but if your patient sometimes you'll get lucky and get a jab in there and steal the ball. But after, you'll usually be right back on your butt."
But sometimes the players do get the best of Cathro, whose ACLs have vanished from the wear and tear of his professional playing career.
Earlier in the season at a practice, sophomore forward Conrad approached a defending Cathro during a scrimmage and put a 360-degree spin move on him.
Cathro was frozen solid by the move as he fell over watching Conrad head for the goal.
"Lindsey has spun him a couple times," Bradley said laughing. "He has to bail out of situations quite a bit if he has to get into turns because he can't turn so you know when he bails out and hits the turf and gets rolling, it's pretty funny."
In a way though, seeing the progress the team has made is gratifying for Cathro, even if it means getting embarrassed at times.
"Yeah they can show me up when they want now - if they decide to turn it on they can show me up," Cathro said. "I love it. I still try to win, I still try to push the girls to be the best the can be.
"I think they realize that I'm pushing them and tackling them for the right reasons. I think they secretly enjoy me making tackles."
ctorr@syr.edu
After that phone call, Bradley knew she found the right man for the job.
"When I read the resumes there was a certain pool that we liked and conducted interviews with, but when I met him I knew what we needed, and my gut just sensed it," Bradley said. "I knew he'd be a good fit for us. And he's been awesome for us - he's really helped our program."
So far, Cathro has had an immediate impact on the Orange, Bradley said. On any given day, one can find Cathro in the middle of scrimmages, teaching his players the best way he knows how. Having a former professional men's player active in scrimmages has helped the team develop much faster, Taylor said. Although, she admits, it's not always fun.
"Sometimes it's really frustrating because he's so quick," Taylor said. "He's really quick off his feet but if your patient sometimes you'll get lucky and get a jab in there and steal the ball. But after, you'll usually be right back on your butt."
But sometimes the players do get the best of Cathro, whose ACLs have vanished from the wear and tear of his professional playing career.
Earlier in the season at a practice, sophomore forward Conrad approached a defending Cathro during a scrimmage and put a 360-degree spin move on him.
Cathro was frozen solid by the move as he fell over watching Conrad head for the goal.
"Lindsey has spun him a couple times," Bradley said laughing. "He has to bail out of situations quite a bit if he has to get into turns because he can't turn so you know when he bails out and hits the turf and gets rolling, it's pretty funny."
In a way though, seeing the progress the team has made is gratifying for Cathro, even if it means getting embarrassed at times.
"Yeah they can show me up when they want now - if they decide to turn it on they can show me up," Cathro said. "I love it. I still try to win, I still try to push the girls to be the best the can be.
"I think they realize that I'm pushing them and tackling them for the right reasons. I think they secretly enjoy me making tackles."
ctorr@syr.edu
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